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Andrew Scott, BAFTA, Benedict Cumberbatch, Firefly, Holmes, James Moriarty, Jim Moriarty, John Watson, Lestrade, Mark Gatiss, Martin Freeman, Moffat, Moriarty, Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft, Mycroft Holmes, Scooby Doo, Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen Moffat, Watson
STOP! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! If you haven’t seen season 2 of Sherlock, do not read this blog post. I’m warning you, I am going to critique and drool all over this thing and you do not want me to ruin it for you.
All right, are they gone?
Okay, good.
First off, I have seen the second season twice and read many other bloggers feelings on it, so I will try to distill it on my own but they may influence me. Except for TVTropes and Tumblr, I cannot think of anyone or anything in particular (except one who I reference later in this review).
Now, for my overall feelings of the show at this point.
MOFFAT!
GATISS!
I BELIEVE IN SHERLOCK HOLMES!
MORIARTY IS REAL!
JOHN! NO! STOP BEING SAD!
EVERYONE NEEDS A HUG!
ALL THESE FEELINGS!
MOFFATT!!! FIRST DOCTOR WHO AND NOW THIS!?!
I NEED SEASON THREE! I AM JUST GOING TO KEEP REWATCHING THE SHOW OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL I GET TO SEE SEASON THREE! The only reason I haven’t written a very nasty letter to Moffat is that the reason it isn’t filming right now is because of The Hobbit. THAT is a legitimate reason to put off the show.
MOFFAT!!!
Okay, got that out of my system.
I am going to say this now, but I beg of you not to kill me.
I think that season 2 episode 1 was tied for the best episode of Sherlock (along with season 1 episode 3). With that in mind, I think season 1 was better overall.
*grabs Captain America’s shield* BACK OFF!
Okay, let me explain. By describing my feelings for each individual episode.
Season 2
Episode 1 – A Scandal in Belgravia
Now, I was kind of expecting a deus ex machina to save Sherlock and John. That, or they jump into the pool as they set off the bomb. I did not expect it to be Irene.
I liked the characterization of Irene, though I understand why a lot of people hate her and hate what it did to Sherlock’s characterization. I enjoyed her nefariousness (I can’t think of a better word). So clever and so… ugh. I have lost all use of the Queen’s English in describing how wonderfully I think Irene was done.
Also, John got to beat up Sherlock. Sherlock deserved it oh so much. It was wonderful.
I was very happy, though, with how Sherlock has developed over the course of the series from not caring about anyone to snapping at Mycroft for telling Mrs. Hudson to shut up. Of course, we still got to keep the Sherlock snark around.
The ending was brilliant. “Only Sherlock Holmes could fool me” indeed.
*hug* Oh Sherlock, you brilliant fictional character you.
Episdoe 2 – The Hounds of Baskerville
Number 1 problem – It is the HOUND of Baskerville not the HOUNDS of Baskerville. *twitch* I don’t have issues. Not at all. I am sure there is a reason, but I can’t figure out for the love of all that is good and Doyle why.
Number 2 problem – I am biased. I really have no love for the original story. I vaguely remember Wishbone doing it in a way I liked, but I have read the original. It was not that good and felt very much like a slap-dash job. With that in mind…
I personally did not like this episode all that much and found it a let down until the second time around (a sign that the episode was not that good). I agree with Ginger Haze (http://gingerhaze.tumblr.com/post/15596029750/i-told-aimee-that-hound-of-the-baskervilles) that it came across as a Scooby Doo episode.
What I really dislike, however, is that after twenty minutes, I was able to figure out exactly what was going on and how it was going to end.
HOWEVER…
I did like seeing Sherlock understanding fear. I like the way Sherlock and Watson played off each other. I liked having Lestrade come in and be that lovely Detective Inspector that we all know and love. Also…
OH MY DOYLE! MYCROFT! WHY WOULD YOU LET MORIARTY OUT! I HATE YOU MYCROFT! MAY YOU BURN IN THE CIRCLE WHERE THEY KEEP CHILD MOLESTERS AND PEOPLE WHO WHISPER IN THEATERS! (For those of you who don’t know, that was a Firefly reference.)
In other words, a brilliant ending.
Side note – I really dislike how people rag on “The Blind Banker” about not being very connected to the other episodes, but that same critique is not applied to “The Hounds of Baskerville”. Maybe I just haven’t searched long enough.
Episode 3 – The Reichenbach Fall
Oh, Andrew Scott, you deserved the BAFTA for your performance so far in the series, but BAFTA would have been crazy not to give the award to you after this episode. I get all fangirly just thinking about how Mr. Scott can go from innocent to the embodiment of evil in such rapid succession. This Moriarty is so much fun and so much more disturbing than many other portrayals. *This goes on for several hours*
Now, ladies and gentlemen of BAFTA, I know you are sane for giving a BAFTA to Mr. Scott and Mr. Freeman, but for the love of all that is good and Doyle, give one to Benedict Cumberbatch NOW!
Now, back to your normal programming.
I confess to not being that emotionally messed up as other fans over the ending of this episode. I think it is because I have read past this point in the original stories and saw Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows so I am emotionally dulled to this point in the Sherlockian (is that a word?) canon. I do want to punch Sherlock though for not telling John, but that is how I feel every time I reach the “death” point of the Sherlock Holmes timeline.
I do think it is a lovely episode and it did keep my head spinning and…
*shame* I kind of believed, just a tiny bit, that Moriarty wasn’t real.
Forgive me Sir Doyle, for I have sinned against the fandom…
All of this is to say…
I still think that the show is brilliant. Even if I was not fond of “The Hounds of Baskerville” that episode is still better than most media out there.
Also…
MOFFAT!
GATISS!
I BELIEVE IN SHERLOCK HOLMES!
MORIARTY IS REAL!
JOHN! NO! STOP BEING SAD!
EVERYONE NEEDS A HUG!
ALL THESE FEELINGS!
MOFFATT!!! FIRST DOCTOR WHO AND NOW THIS!?!
I NEED SEASON THREE! I AM JUST GOING TO KEEP REWATCHING THE SHOW OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL I GET TO SEE SEASON THREE! The only reason I haven’t written a very nasty letter to Moffat is that the reason it isn’t filming right now is because of The Hobbit. THAT is a legitimate reason to put off the show.
MOFFAT!!!
Until Our Next Meeting,
The Lost Writer of Rohan
P. S. I say this with the highest respect with no alternative motive with no low desires besides an acknowledgement of something lovely: Benedict Cumberbatch’s cheekbones should be a national, if not a world treasure. Seriously, no one should have such marvelous cheekbones.